Search results for "differentiation"
showing 10 items of 1605 documents
Effects of Nrf2 deficiency on bone microarchitecture in an experimental model of osteoporosis
2014
Objective. Redox imbalance contributes to bone fragility. We have evaluated the in vivo role of nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), an important regulator of cellular responses to oxidative stress, in bone metabolism using a model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods. Ovariectomy was performed in both wild-type and mice deficient in Nrf2 (Nrf2-/-). Bone microarchitecture was analyzed by CT. Serum markers of bone metabolism were also measured. Reactive oxygen species production was determined using dihydrorhodamine 123. Results. Sham-operated or ovariectomized Nrf2 -/- mice exhibit a loss in trabecular bone mineral density in femur, accompanied by a reduction in co…
The Transcription Factor T-bet Is Induced by IL-15 and Thymic Agonist Selection and Controls CD8αα+ Intraepithelial Lymphocyte Development
2014
Summary CD8αα + intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) are instrumental in maintaining the epithelial barrier in the intestine. Similar to natural killer cells and other innate lymphoid cells, CD8αα + IELs constitutively express the T-box transcription factor T-bet. However, the precise role of T-bet for the differentiation or function of IELs is unknown. Here we show that mice genetically deficient for T-bet lacked both TCRαβ + and TCRγδ + CD8αα + IELs and thus are more susceptible to chemically induced colitis. Although T-bet was induced in thymic IEL precursors (IELPs) as a result of agonist selection and interleukin-15 (IL-15) receptor signaling, it was dispensable for the generation of IEL…
Enhancement of the FGFR1 signaling in the FGFR1-5-HT1A heteroreceptor complex in midbrain raphe 5-HT neuron systems. Relevance for neuroplasticity an…
2015
New findings show existence of FGFR1-5-HT1A heteroreceptor complexes in 5-HT nerve cells of the dorsal and median raphe nuclei of the rat midbrain and hippocampus. Synergistic receptor-receptor interactions in these receptor complexes indicated their enhancing role in hippocampal plasticity. The existence of FGFR1-5-HT1A heteroreceptor complexes also in midbrain raphe 5-HT nerve cells open up the possibility that antidepressant drugs by increasing extracellular 5-HT levels can cause an activation of the FGF-2/FGFR1 mechanism in these nerve cells as well. Therefore, the agonist modulation of the FGFR1-5-HT1A heteroreceptor complexes and their specific role is now determined in rat medullary …
Change in expression of MGMT during maturation of human monocytes into dendritic cells.
2005
Dendritic cells (DCs) maturated from monocytes play an important role in the immune system, not only in defense against conventional infections but also in cancer rejection. Because of the central role of DCs in tumor host defense it is highly important that DCs as well as the progenitor cell population are protected during cancer therapy. Since most anticancer drugs target DNA, the DNA repair capacity is most importance for the response of DCs and their precursor cells. Here, we studied the expression of the DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in monocytes obtained from peripheral blood of healthy donors and DCs maturated from monocytes (moDCs). We show that MG…
Heterochronic differentiation of sexual dimorphs among Jurassic ammonite species
1997
Ontogenetic and then heterochronic approaches are used here to analyze sexual differentiation within two well-known Jurassic dimorphic species. This analysis compares two ways of determining the relative biological age of ammonites, one using size (diameter) and the other the number of septa as a proxy of age. The shape standard is established from factor analysis of morphological and growth parameters. Size-age-shape relationships are analyzed on the basis of a new heterochronic representation. When diameter is used as a proxy of age, microconch morphs are globally considered to be progenetic compared with macroconch morphs. When size and age are determined separately and shape is included…
Recent patents and advances in hepatocyte-like cells differentiation by mesenchymal stem cells
2013
Chronic liver diseases constitute one of the main causes of death in western countries. Orthotopic liver transplantation still remains the final therapeutic approach to these diseases, but alternative therapeutic strategies are actively researched. Hepatocyte transplantation is considered a promising approach, even if this technique presents many limitations. These factors boosted the research for alternative cell sources to derive functional hepatocytes. In the last years, research on basic biology and differentiative ability of adult, embryonic and perinatal stem cells has constantly increased. The term "perinatal" indicates stem cell populations derived from foetal sources such as placen…
IL-21 Regulates the Differentiation of a Human γδ T Cell Subset Equipped with B Cell Helper Activity
2012
Vγ9Vδ2 T lymphocytes recognize nonpeptidic antigens without presentation by MHC molecules and display pleiotropic features. Here we report that coculture of Vγ9Vδ2 cells with phosphoantigen and IL-21 leads to selective expression of the transcription repressor Bcl-6 and polarization toward a lymphocyte subset displaying features of follicular B-helper T (T(FH)) cells. T(FH) like Vγ9Vδ2 cells have a predominant central memory (CD27(+)CD45RA(-)) phenotype and express ICOS, CD40L and CXCR5. Upon antigen activation, they secrete IL-4, IL-10 and CXCL13, and provide B-cell help for antibody production in vitro. Our findings delineate a subset of human Vγ9Vδ2 lymphocytes, which, upon interaction w…
Facilitated Anion Transport Induces Hyperpolarization of the Cell Membrane That Triggers Differentiation and Cell Death in Cancer Stem Cells
2015
Facilitated anion transport potentially represents a powerful tool to modulate various cellular functions. However, research into the biological effects of small molecule anionophores is still at an early stage. Here we have used two potent anionophore molecules inspired in the structure of marine metabolites tambjamines to gain insight into the effect induced by these compounds at the cellular level. We show how active anionophores, capable of facilitating the transmembrane transport of chloride and bicarbonate in model phospholipid liposomes, induce acidification of the cytosol and hyperpolarization of plasma cell membranes. We demonstrate how this combined effect can be used against canc…
Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Induces Inflammation and Predicts Spinal Progression in Ankylosing Spondylitis
2017
Objective: To investigate the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: Patients who met the modified New York criteria for AS were recruited for the study. Healthy volunteers, rheumatoid arthritis patients, and osteoarthritis patients were included as controls. Based on the annual rate of increase in modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS), AS patients were classified as progressors or nonprogressors. MIF levels in serum and synovial fluid were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Predictors of AS progression were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis of ileal tissue was…
Electromagnetic Sensitivity Analysis and Shape Optimization Using Method of Moments and Automatic Differentiation
2009
Sensitivity analysis is an important part of gradient-based optimization of electromagnetic devices. We demonstrate how sensitivity analysis can be incorporated into an existing in-house method of moments solver with a relatively small amount of labor by using a technique called automatic differentiation (AD). This approach enables us to obtain (geometrical) sensitivities of the discrete solution with accuracy up to numerical precision. We compare the assembly time and memory usage of the modified and original solvers. Moreover, we optimize the shape of a dipole antenna and the dimensions of a Yagi-Uda array using the presented AD technique, traditional response level finite difference sens…